Display device power savings

ABSTRACT

An electronic or computing device includes an integrated graphical display and a power source, such as a battery, to provide power to operate the graphical display. A selectable shutdown control, such as an operating system shutdown control, is displayed on the graphical display, and when selected, initiates a process to shutdown the electronic or computing device. The device also includes a component, such as a graphical display controller or software application, to turn off the graphical display and conserve power when the selectable control is selected and before the process to shutdown the electronic or computing device is initiated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to saving power utilized by a displaydevice and, in particular, to display device battery power savings whenshutting down a portable computing device.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A portable computing device typically has an integrated displaydevice to display images, graphics, and text. Many portable computingand integrated display devices are powered from a battery sourceincluded with the computing device. One issue that users of portablecomputers are particularly concerned with is battery life. The morebattery power that can be conserved, the longer a portable computer canused, particularly when alternative power sources may not be available,such as on an airplane.

[0003]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional portable computer 100 having ahousing base 102 and a housing top 104. Housing base 102 and housing top104 are coupled together via a hinge or other flexible joint (not shown)to permit housing top 104 to fold down over housing base 102. A keyboardassembly 106 is mounted within housing base 102 and a graphical display108 is mounted within housing top 104.

[0004] Portable computer 100 includes a push-button 110 to turn thecomputer on and off. Additionally, computer 100 includes an operatingsystem shutdown control 112 that is displayed on graphical display 108.When the shutdown control 112 is selected, such as with a mouse or otherpointing device, the operating system and any other processes running oncomputer 100 are shut down to a point at which it is safe to turn offthe power to computer 100, such as with push-button 110. Typically, anoperating system shutdown process can also turn off the power tocomputer 100 if the system supports a power-off feature.

[0005] When the operating system shutdown control 112 is selected, theoperating system typically generates an informational message 114 thatis displayed on graphical display 108 to indicate to a user that theoperating system is performing a shutdown of computer 100. Graphicaldisplay 108 consumes batter power to display such messages when computer100 is operating on battery power. Although informative, such messagestypically do not convey user interaction instructions, and shutting downcomputer 100 does not require any other user interaction other thanselecting the operating system shutdown control 112. Accordingly, thebattery power that is used to power graphical display 108 to displaymessage 114 can be conserved.

[0006] The following description discusses systems and methods forsaving power utilized by a display device when a process is initiated toshut down a portable electronic or computing device.

SUMMARY

[0007] An electronic or computing device includes an integratedgraphical display and a power source, such as a battery, to providepower to operate the graphical display. A selectable shutdown control,such as an operating system shutdown control, is displayed on thegraphical display, and when selected, initiates a process to shutdownthe electronic or computing device.

[0008] The electronic or computing device also includes a component,such as a graphical display controller or software application, todetermine when the selectable control is selected. The component turnsoff the graphical display to conserve power when the selectable controlis selected and before the process to shutdown the portable computingdevice is initiated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to referencelike features and components.

[0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional portable computing device.

[0011]FIG. 2 is block diagram that illustrates various components of anexemplary computing device.

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary portable computing device.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates components of theexemplary computing device shown in FIG. 3.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that describes a method for displaydevice power savings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Introduction

[0016] The following describes systems and methods for display devicepower savings when shutting down a portable electronic or computingdevice. When a shutdown control is selected to initiate a shutdownprocess of the portable electronic or computing device, a graphicaldisplay of the portable device is turned off before the process isinitiated to conserve the device's battery power.

[0017] In the described embodiments, a display device is illustrated anddescribed as a graphical display integrated with a portable computingdevice. However, the described systems and methods for display devicepower savings are applicable to many different types of mobileelectronic and computing devices of varying sizes and designations. Suchmobile devices include laptop computers, handheld computers, notebookcomputers, palm-sized computers, pocket computers, personal digitalassistants, personal organizers, cellular phones, and other similardevices having an integrated display device. The specific examplesdescribed in this disclosure are not meant to limit the scope of theclaims or the description, but are meant to provide a specificunderstanding of the described implementations.

[0018] Exemplary Computer Architecture

[0019]FIG. 2 illustrates various components of an exemplary computingdevice 200 that can be utilized to implement the inventive techniquesdescribed herein. Computer 200 includes one or more processors 202,interfaces 204 for the input and output of data, and user input devices206. Processor(s) 202 process various instructions to control theoperation of computer 200, while interfaces 204 provide a mechanism forcomputer 200 to communicate with other electronic and computing devices.User input devices 206 include a keyboard, mouse, pointing device,and/or other mechanisms to interact with, and to input information tocomputer 200.

[0020] Input/output interfaces 204 can include serial, parallel, andnetwork interfaces. A network interface allows devices coupled to acommon data communication network to communicate information withcomputing device 200. Similarly, a serial and/or parallel interfaceprovides a data communication path directly between computing device 200and another electronic or computing device.

[0021] Computer 200 also includes a memory 208 (such as ROM and/or RAM),a disk drive 210, a floppy disk drive 212, and a CD-ROM drive 214.Memory 208, disk drive 210, floppy disk drive 212, and CD-ROM drive 214provide data storage mechanisms for computer 200. Although not shown, asystem bus typically connects the various components within computingdevice 200.

[0022] Computer 200 also includes application components 216 and caninclude an integrated display device 218, such as for a personal digitalassistant (PDA), portable computing device, and similar mobileelectronic and computing devices. Application components 216 provide aruntime environment in which software applications or components can runor execute on processor(s) 202.

[0023] Computer 200 also includes a display component 220, such as adisplay controller, which can be implemented as hardware, software,firmware, or any combination thereof to process image data for display,such as on integrated display device 218, or an externally connectedmonitor.

[0024] Exemplary Portable Computing Device and Power Saving System

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary portable computing device 300having a housing base 302 and a housing top 304. Housing base 302 andhousing top 304 are coupled together via a hinge or other flexible joint(not shown) to permit housing top 304 to fold down over housing base302. A keyboard assembly 306 is mounted within housing base 302 and agraphical display 308 is mounted within housing top 304.

[0026] Portable computing device 300 includes a push-button 310 to turnthe computing device on and off. Additionally, computing device 300includes an operating system shutdown control 312 that is displayed ongraphical display 308. When the shutdown control 312 is selected, suchas with a mouse or other pointing device, a process is initiated toshutdown computing device 300. The process shuts down the operatingsystem and any other processes running on computer 300 to a point atwhich it is safe to turn off the power to computer 300. The shutdownprocess also turns off the power to computing device 300.

[0027]FIG. 4 illustrates components of portable computing device 300(FIG. 3) which includes a power source 314, such as a battery component,that is depleted of available power when computing device 300 isoperating on battery power. Computing device 300 can include one or moreof the components of exemplary computing device 200 (FIG. 2).

[0028] Computing device 300 includes one or processors 316 and a displaycomponent 318, such as a graphical display controller that processesimage data to display a corresponding image on graphical display 308.Display component 318 can include a microcontroller, integrated circuit,or similar video processing component to process image data. Displaycomponent 318 also generates the selectable shutdown control 312 fordisplay on graphical display 308.

[0029] Computing device 300 includes an operating system 320 andapplication components 322 that run or execute on processor(s) 316. Whenthe operating system shutdown control 312 is selected, a component, suchas display component 318 or application component 322, turns offgraphical display 308 to conserve power before the process to shutdowncomputing device 300 is initiated. An application component 322 can beimplemented to determine when shutdown control 312 is selected, and turnoff graphical display 308.

[0030] Turning off graphical display 308 when shutdown control 312 isselected, and before the process to shutdown computing device 300 isinitiated, conserves power 314 that would otherwise be utilized tooperate graphical display 308 to display information pertaining to theoperating system 320 shutting down computing device 300. It should berecognized that shutdown control 312 is also not displayed on graphicaldisplay 308 after the graphical display is turned off to conserve power.

[0031] Method for Display Device Power Savings

[0032]FIG. 5 illustrates a method for display device power savings Theorder in which the method is described is not intended to be construedas a limitation. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in anysuitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.

[0033] At block 500, a selectable control is displayed on a graphicaldisplay of an electronic or computing device. An example of theselectable control is operating system shutdown control 312 displayed ongraphical display 308 of computing device 300 (FIG. 3).

[0034] At block 502, a determination is made as to when the selectablecontrol is selected. For example, an application component 322 can beimplemented to determine when shutdown control 312 is selected.

[0035] At block 504, the graphical display is turned off to conservepower that operates the graphical display. For example, displaycomponent 318 and/or an application component 322 can be implemented toturn off graphical display 308 to conserve power 314.

[0036] At block 506, a process is initiated to shutdown the electronicor computing device in response to the selectable control beingselected. For example, operating system 320 and computing device 300 areshutdown and powered off.

[0037] Conclusion

[0038] The systems and methods for display device power savingsdescribed herein conserve power when shutting down a portable electronicor computing device. When a shutdown control is selected to initiate ashutdown process of the portable electronic or computing device, agraphical display of the portable device is turned off before theprocess is initiated to conserve the device's battery power.

[0039] Although the invention has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, thespecific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms ofimplementing the claimed invention.

What is Claimed is:
 1. A portable computing device, comprising: agraphical display; a power source configured to provide power to operatethe graphical display; a selectable control configured to initiate aprocess to shutdown the portable computing device; and a componentconfigured to turn off the graphical display and conserve the power tooperate the graphical display when the selectable control is selectedand before the process to shutdown the portable computing device isinitiated.
 2. A portable computing device as recited in claim 1, whereinthe power source is a battery.
 3. A portable computing device as recitedin claim 1, wherein the graphical display is configured to display theselectable control.
 4. A portable computing device as recited in claim1, wherein the selectable control is an operating system selectablecontrol displayed on the graphical display.
 5. A portable computingdevice as recited in claim 1, wherein the component is a graphicaldisplay controller.
 6. A portable computing device as recited in claim1, wherein the component is further configured to determine when theselectable control is selected.
 7. A portable computing device asrecited in claim 1, wherein the component is a software applicationconfigured to determine when the selectable control is selected.
 8. Anelectronic device, comprising: a graphical display; a selectable controlconfigured to initiate a process to shutdown the electronic device; anda component configured to turn off the graphical display when theselectable control is selected and before the process to shutdown theelectronic device is initiated.
 9. An electronic device as recited inclaim 8, further comprising a power source, wherein power to operate thegraphical display is conserved when the component turns off thegraphical display.
 10. An electronic device as recited in claim 8,further comprising a battery, wherein battery power to operate thegraphical display is conserved when the component turns off thegraphical display.
 11. An electronic device as recited in claim 8,wherein the graphical display is configured to display the selectablecontrol.
 12. An electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein theselectable control is an operating system selectable control displayedon the graphical display.
 13. An electronic device as recited in claim8, wherein the component is a graphical display controller.
 14. Anelectronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the component isfurther configured to determine when the selectable control is selected.15. An electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the component isa software application configured to determine when the selectablecontrol is selected.
 16. A display device, comprising: a graphicaldisplay; and a display component configured to turn off the graphicaldisplay when an operating system shutdown control is selected and beforea process to shutdown the operating system is initiated.
 17. A displaydevice as recited in claim 16, further comprising a power source,wherein power to operate the graphical display is conserved when thedisplay component turns off the graphical display.
 18. A display deviceas recited in claim 16, further comprising a battery, wherein batterypower to operate the graphical display is conserved when the displaycomponent turns off the graphical display.
 19. A display device asrecited in claim 16, wherein the graphical display is configured todisplay the operating system shutdown control.
 20. A display device asrecited in claim 16, wherein the display component is further configuredto determine when the operating system shutdown control is selected. 21.A display device as recited in claim 16, wherein the display componentis a graphical display controller.
 22. A method, comprising: initiatinga process to shutdown a computing device in response to a selectablecontrol being selected; and turning off a graphical display of thecomputing device to conserve power that operates the graphical displaywhen the selectable control is selected and before initiating theprocess.
 23. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprisingdisplaying the selectable control on the graphical display.
 24. A methodas recited in claim 22, further comprising determining when theselectable control is selected.
 25. A method as recited in claim 22,further comprising shutting down an operating system of the computingdevice in response to the selectable control being selected, wherein theselectable control is an operating system selectable control displayedon the graphical display.
 26. A method as recited in claim 22, whereinturning off the graphical display includes turning off a graphicaldisplay controller.
 27. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein turningoff the graphical display includes turning off the graphical display toconserve battery power.
 28. One or more computer-readable mediacomprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, directa portable computing device to perform a method comprising: initiating aprocess to shutdown the portable computing device in response to anoperating system selectable control being selected; and turning off agraphical display of the computing device to conserve power to operatethe graphical display when the operating system selectable control isselected and before initiating the process.
 29. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 28, further comprisingdisplaying the operating system selectable control on the graphicaldisplay.
 30. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 28,further comprising determining when the operating system selectablecontrol is selected.